Jim Harbaugh's time at Michigan stands as one of the most successful stretches in the program's history, highlighted by a national championship. However, his tenure was also surrounded by controversy, most notably the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal that overshadowed Harbaugh's final years in Ann Arbor.
Meanwhile, a discussion about the track record of Michigan graduates during Harbaugh's tenure drew strong reactions from college football fans.
The New York Jets announced on Saturday that they are releasing defensive tackle Mazi Smith , adding another chapter to a difficult NFL stretch for the former Michigan star.
Smith had joined the Jets as part of last season's trade with the Dallas Cowboys for Quinnen Williams . However, his future with the team already seemed uncertain after New York added T'Vondre Sweat via trade and signed veteran David Onyemata in free agency.
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Meanwhile, Smith's release triggered Locked on Nittany Lions host Zach Seyko to spark a broader discussion.
"Weird that every Michigan player from 2021-23 has struggled in the NFL. Every. Single. One," Seyko said .
College football fans had plenty of things to say about the discussion.
"That team was a bunch of frauds. They also went to teams that had no idea how to use their skill set. This is the result," a fan said.
"Maybe they were good because they somehow knew what plays were coming," one said.
Penn State reporter Joel Haas also joined the conversation with a sarcastic response.
"I was in a coma from 2021-23, was there anything happening at Michigan during that time frame that may have given them some sort of an advantage that they no longer have?" Haas wrote.
There is some merit to the idea that several Michigan players drafted during that stretch have encountered obstacles in the NFL, whether due to injuries or limited opportunities.
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One of the biggest examples of that is J. J. McCarthy, who was selected 10th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2024 NFL Draft. McCarthy's rookie season in 2024 was derailed by a torn meniscus, and he finished last season with the fifth-worst PFN NFL QB Impact grade of 67.0.
However, several Michigan players from the above-mentioned tenure have enjoyed successful NFL careers, making Seyko's sweeping claim a point of contention among fans.
"Yeah this just isn't true there's been some that have been good," a fan said.
The Detroit Tigers fan page, TigsTown, offered an extensive rebuttal by highlighting several Michigan products that have performed well in the NFL.
"If you're looking at all 3 years, and you think there hasn't been a single good player in the NFL from ANY of those teams, you are certifiably insane," the page wrote . " Aidan Hutchinson was 2nd team All-Pro last year…(Blake) Corum had over 700 yards and 6 TDs last year.
" Olu Oluwatimi and Mike Morris have both been solid rotation guys for the Seahawks . (Mike) Sainristil has started 2 years for the Commanders with 6 INT's and 2 Forced Fumbles. (Luke) Schoonmaker and AJ Barner have both become starting TE's in the league, with Barner racking up more than 500 yards and 6 TD's last year. Should I keep going?"
"Aiden Hutchinson? Is (he) struggling?" one exclaimed .
As Michigan looks toward the 2026 season, the Wolverines will have an opportunity to shift the conversation back toward their current program. After finishing 9-4 last season, Michigan is aiming to return to the top of the Big Ten race and secure a College Football Playoff appearance under first-year head coach Kyle Whittingham.
PFN's analytics give Michigan a 13.5% chance of making the College Football Playoffs, and a 2.9% chance of securing a top-four seed.
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
